Abortion Pill 101
It's time to share vital information about abortion pills, which will be crucial part in the post-Roe landscape.
There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding around abortion pills and one thing you can do is to
make sure you understand and can educate others on abortion pills. Information on this flyer is pulled
from Shout Your Abortion, Planned Parenthood, Aid Access, Women on the Web, and many more.
Please share this information widely in your circles in ways that are safe.
What are abortion pills?
Abortion pills consist of two medications: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Abortion pills are safe and effec-
tive and in the US, abortion pills are generally prescribed up to 10 - 11 weeks in pregnancy (pend-
ing provider). The majority of abortions that happen in America are through abortion pills (over 54% as of
2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute) and in 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved mifepristone as a safe method abortion.
Mifepristone stops the supply of hormones that maintains the interior of the uterus. Pregnancy needs a
hormone called progesterone to grow normally and mifepristone blocks your body!s own progesterone.
Without these hormones, the uterus cannot support the pregnancy and the contents of the uterus are ex-
pelled. Mifepristone is the first medication pill you take.
Misoprostol is synthetic prostaglandin which generates a contraction in the uterus. It is the second medi-
cine taken , which you take either right away or up to 48 hours later (pending directions you receive). This
pill causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus, like having a really heavy, crampy period, and
the process is pretty much akin to early miscarriage.
Abortion pills are often referred to as self-managed abortion, meaning an abortion that you manage out-
side of a clinic or physical medical setting. This process is facilitated by tele-health appointments and on-
line abortion pill providers. Before Roe, self-managed abortion was considered dangerous, which is how
the coat hanger became a visible symbol in the reproductive movement. But we've come a long way
since then (yes, even with the tremendous setback of Roe). Self-managed abortion and abortion pills are
incredibly safe with very little complication and it is up to us to share this information for those who it will
benefit and apply to. If you'd like to learn more about using pills later in pregnancy, Women on
Web's FAQ and AidAccess.org are great places to start. You can find that information on the back
of this flyer.
Are there weight restrictions for abortion pills?
No! This is a common misconception stemming from confusing abortion pills with emergency contracep-
tives, which are completely different. Abortion pills work to stop a pregnancy while emergency contracep-
tives (like Plan B or Ella) work to prevent pregnancy (and must be taken 1-5 days after unprotected sex).
The dosage of abortion pills does not depend on weight.
Are there weight restrictions for emergency contraception?
Yes! What you need to know there are two forms of emergency contraception: Plan b and Ella. Plan B is
considered the most effective for people under 165lbs and Ella is considered the most effective for people
over 165lbs. If you are told that emergency contraception in general may not work as well for people over
195lbs, this is wrong.
Where can one safely get information about pills?
There are a ton of places to access pills and you can find them on the back of this flyer! Mailing
time and potential legal risks vary depending on location and identity. Check out If When How (a legal
reproductive resource team) and Digital Defense Fund (a reproductive digital security team) to learn more
about potential legal risk and how to mitigate it.
What if I need medical help after I have my pills?
Call the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline, which is a hotline run by volunteer doctors, nurse practition-
ers, and nurse midwives who are available to answer your medical questions during your at-home abor-
tion process. You can call or text them at 833-246-2632 and their website is mahotline.org. It is recom-
mended to contact the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline before going to an ER if you are considering it!
An important note: Abortion pills are not detectable in blood or urine tests and function the same as an
early term miscarriage.
Can you get abortion pills before you're pregnant?
Yes! Aid Access, an Austrian-based organization who sends pills into the US, offers advance provision.
This means you can order pills *before* you are pregnant and have them on hand when you need them.
They have about a 2-year shelf life. Go through the consultation process at Aid Access to learn more
about advance provision and order pills.
I can't afford abortion pills. Is financial aid available?
Yes! Many organizations offer pills on a sliding scale, including up to $0 for those in need and pills usually
run around $150.0o. Many abortion pill providers listed on this flyer will absolutely work with people who
need financial help. Be up front about what you can and can't afford! If you are financially able, you
can also support the work of Aid Access and many other organizations working to send abortion pills.
The legality of Aid Access sending pills into red states will likely be a matter of much debate (and
founder Rebecca Gomperts remains committed to doing it regardless) but there are also US-based tele-
health organizations like Just the Pill and Choix who practice in blue states, where abortion will remain
legal. To learn more about the options in your area, visit PlanCPills.org and click on your state.
Are abortion pills the answer to abortion access in the US?
No. Abortion pills won't work for all people and situations. Some people have medical constraints, others
will be too far along for this to be a good option, and for some people, it will be legally risky to obtain pills
in the mail. Marginalized people are more at risk of criminalization. Abortion pills aren't a one-size fits all
solution, but they will help **many** people get the care they need. Learning and sharing information
about pills is a fundamental part of contributing to access in post Roe America.
What if I am further along than 11 weeks?
We strongly recommend reaching out to a trusted provider for options. abortionfinder.org and
https://www.ineedana.com and https://abortionondemand.org are all good places to go to. If you are in
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, we strongly recommend reaching out to ARC
Southeast (https://arc-southeast.org / 1-855-227-2475) for help, especially for funding and logistical sup-
port.
Abortion access is an act of community care and community responsibility. They are trying to
make us afraid of helping each other and it is our obligation to be there for one another. We are all
in this together. Please stay as safe as possible and look out for each other.
SUPPORT HOTLINES
ABORTION PILLS
If When How Legal Support: 1-844-868-2812 AidAccess: www.aidaccess.org
repolegalhelpline.org
Abortion pill info: https://abortionpillinfo.org
Miscarriage and Abortion Support Hotline Plan C: https://www.plancpills.org
1-833-246-2632
www.mahotline.org CaraFem: https://carafem.org
WomenontheWeb:
ABORTION FUNDS + SUPPORT https://www.womenonweb.org
Abortion On Demand:
ARC Southeast: www.arc-southeast.org
National Abortion fund: https://abortionfunds.org https://abortionondemand.org
Shout Your Abortion: www.shoutyourabortion.org
I need an abortion: www.ineedanA.org Hey Jane: https://www.heyjane.co/home-v2
Keep Our Clinics: www.keepourclinics.org My Choix: https://www.mychoix.co
Abortion finder: Abortionfinder.org
